Port Houston Community Defends School From Closure

This month we've been covering the possible closure of five schools here in Houston. Our latest report comes from Port Houston Elementary. Several hundred parents and community members came out Monday night to defend their school.

"It's the center of this community. There's a lot of bad things around here. It's the only good thing about this."

"Don't dismantle something that's working."

"The safety issues alone. From here to say Pleasantville, if that's where they're going to be assigned to, is dangerous, because they have to walk across the track. Some of that area do not have sidewalks. And when it rains, God forbid!"

That was Esmeralda Valdovinos, who graduated from Port Houston; HISD trustee Juliet Stipeche and Artie Onayemi, who was the school nurse for 25 years.

More than 90 percent of the students at Port Houston Elementary are Hispanic. The school is one of five HISD schools facing possible closure (Photo by Nimra Haroon)

Like its name suggests, Port Houston Elementary is near the region's port – one of the busiest in the world.

It's not a typical neighborhood. Small homes sit near trucking companies and petro chemical businesses.

Again, Onayemi the former school nurse.

"We may not have a big enrollment but it serves a multitude of purposes here. They don't have banks. They don't have grocery stores."

She says the elementary school fills in that void.

Many say it's the hub for the largely Hispanic community. On campus, there's an afterschool program. Even parents can study English as a second language there.

What's more, supporters of Port Houston Elementary say students there are actually learning. Last year, the school earned distinguished marks from the state in reading and math.

HISD Trustee Juliet Stipeche says she is against closing Port Houston Elementary, calling it a 'beacon' for the local community (Photo by Nimra Haroon)